Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/375

 CORONACH CORONET 371 and sandy, and during the hot winds resembles a vast wilderness. CORONACH, a lamentation at funerals, for- merly prevalent throughout Scotland and Ire- land, and still common in parts of those coun- tries. The okokvyi] of the Greeks and ulula- tus of the Latins designated similar practices among the classical nations; and the resem- blance of these words to the common Celtic cries on funeral occasions, uloghone and Jiul- lulu, indicates an etymological affinity. Com- bined cries of lamentation were intermingled with expostulations and reproaches bestowed upon the deceased for leaving the world, and the wailing was continued by a train of females which followed the corpse to the burial. CORONADO, Francisco Vasquez de, an explorer of New Mexico and the countries on the river Gila. On the arrival in Culiacan of Cabeca de Vaca from his journey from Florida in 1536, when he brought news of the existence of half- civilized tribes far to the north, living in popu- lous cities, acquainted with the arts, and pos- sessing quantities of gold, silver, and precious stones, an expedition was sent out under Marco de Niza, in 1539, to explore the regions referred to. Upon its return a second expedition was fitted out under Coronado, which departed from Culiacan, on the Pacific coast, in April, 1540. He passed up the entire length of what is now the state of Sonora to the river Gila. Crossing this, he penetrated the country be- yond to the Little Colorado (called by him Rio del Lino), and paid a visit to the famed cities of Cibola mentioned by Cabeca de Vaca and De Niza. In the kingdom were seven cities, but he declares that there was no truth in the reports of his predecessor regarding their wealth. The country, he says, was too cold for cotton, yet the people all wore mantles of it, and cotton yarn was found in their houses. He also found among this people maize, Guinea cocks, peas, dressed skins, &c. From Cibola Coronado travelled eastward, visiting several towns, similar to the existing villages of the Pueblo Indians. He proceeded eastward to the Rio Grande, and from there 300 leagues to the city of Quivira, the ruins of which are well known, being near lat. 34 N., in a direction N. E. of El Paso, about 170 m. distant. There he found a temperate climate, with very good waters and an abundance of fruit. There was no cotton seen or garments of it used, the peo- ple clothing themselves in skins. On his way back in March, 1542, Coronado fell from his horse at Tiguex, near the Rio Grande, and is said to have become insane. The viceroy Mendoza was much annoyed at the return of the expedition, which was fitted out at great ex- pense. He wished a colony to be founded in the distant regions visited, but the commander of the expedition did not deem it proper to leave any of his party in so poor a country, and at so great a distance from succor. CORONADO DE PERRY, Carolina, a Spanish poet and novelist, born at Almendralejo, Estre- madura, in 1823. She first attracted notice by a poem called La palma. In 1843 she pub- lished at Madrid a collection of verses, and another in 1852, embracing a wider range of subjects. Among her prose works are Sigea, a novel founded on the adventures of Ca- moens, Jarilla, Paquita, and La luz del Tejo. About 1853 she married Horatio J. Perry, American secretary of legation at Madrid. One of her poems, El pajaro perdido, has been translated by William Cullen Bryant. CORONER, an officer so called from coronator, because originally his functions were for the most part those of a conservator of the peace, and in other respects of a ministerial deputy of the crown. The office is of very great antiquity in England, and at an early period was held by men of high dignity. The chief justice of the king's bench was called by Coke the chief cor- oner of the kingdom, and as such he could per- form the duties of the office if he chose in any part of the realm. It was the custom from a remote period to elect several coroners in every county, which was done by the freehold- ers at the county court. By a statute in the reign of Edward L it was enacted that none but lawful and discreet knights should be cho- sen; but, according to Blackstone, "through the culpable neglect of gentlemen of property the office had fallen into disrepute, and got into low and indigent hands." More recently, how- ever, the office has been generally held by men of respectability. The duties of coroner are ministerial and judicial. In his ministerial ca- pacity he may serve writs when the sheriff is incompetent to act, or when the process is against the sheriff himself ; he may also by vir- tue of his office apprehend a felon within his county without warrant. His chief judicial function is to inquire, when any person is slain or dies suddenly or in prison, concerning the manner of his death. This must be super msum corporis (within sight of the body), and by a jury summoned for that purpose over whom the coroner presides. If upon the in- quest any one is found guilty of homicide, he is to be committed to prison by the coroner, and the inquisition with the evidence is to be re- turned to the king's bench. Another part of his duties is to inquire concerning shipwrecks, and who is in possession of any of the property which may have been saved. In this country the office exists in all or most of the states, and the duties are generally the same as in England. There is no similar office under the federal government. CORONET (Lat. corona, a crown), a crown worn by princes and noblemen. It was not known in England prior to the reign of Henry III., and the oldest remaining representation of one is on the monument of John of Eltham, second son of Edward III., who died in 1334. All the coronets at present worn by the British nobility surround caps of crimson velvet edged with ermine: That of the prince of Wales was anciently a circle of gold, with four crosses pat-